High rates of gross deformities in wildlife populations often serve as indicators of underlying environmental health problems. This study represents the first, most comprehensive effort possible to document avian deformities in Algeria, including abnormal beaks and colours, leucism, albinism, and melanism. Over a ten-year period, 50 cases of deformities were documented in 20 provinces, belonging to thirty species, eighteen families and ten orders. Abnormal beaks were observed in 13 cases, including conditions such as crossed mandibles, elongated mandibles, and misaligned beaks, which might significantly impact the birds' ability to feed and groom effectively. Leucism, both partial and complete, was the most common aberration, detected in accounting for 35 cases, with partial leucism being most frequent (n=23). Albinism and melanism were rare, each observed in one case. Passeriformes exhibited the highest number of deformities, particularly in the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus, n=5) and the Common Blackbird (Turdus merula, n=3). Additionally, multiple cases of leucism were observed in the Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto, n=6). Notably, deformities were recorded in both resident (23 species) and migratory (7 species) with a significantly higher number of cases observed in resident species. This study highlights the importance of continuous monitoring and further research to understand the underlying causes of these deformities and their implications for avian conservation in Algeria.
Belkacem et al. (Thu,) studied this question.